smoke free - 3 days so far

[Amanda L]

That's GREAT Sandy!! I'm rooting for you! Keep us posted on your progress and the orchids you buy to reward yourself!

[flhiker]

Congrats on taking the first step in quitting a very unnecessary habit. The most important thing that will help you be smoke free is the desire to quit. As for a little extra motivation is of course your health but think of the money that is associated with smoking. I quit smoking back when cigarettes the cost 1.25 but I understand that they cost around 4 bucks a pack now. If you smoke 2 packs a day by not smoking you can put 4 dollars in the bank and 4 dollars in a orchid fund everyday. Just think of the orchids you could get after a couple months and your be around much longer to enjoy them.
You must tell yourself that it is much more important to quit then not and it does get easier. Good luck and hang in there.

[Sandy4453]

Starting day 6 now!

Pantsonfire, my girlfriend (an RN) just yesterday, suggested Welbutrin. I'm going to find out about this, thanks. And I look at them the same way you did...as my enemy.

dounoharm, what you said is what I have been thinking a lot about....too painful to go through again so I'm going to stick it now and hope that the worst is over and will start getting easier....SOON!!

Beverly, what I mentioned above, has been my daily affirmation....not worth repeating this grueling experience again so I'm 'biting the bullet' once and only once!

Dave, it's been a long time since you've smoked. Cigs are $5 to $7.50 a pack...another great reason to quit. Maybe I'll be able to build a GH with the money I save? (But first I have to buy that house with the land to build it on. )

Thanks Amanda and Harry!!!

[kiki-do]

Hi Sandy and Quietmorning, You two are doing awesome! I quit 21 years ago and smoked for 21 years, so this is a special year for me. I used the gum (it was a prescription then). My doctor told me that when I was having a really bad craving, to take some nice deep breaths and to drink a tall glass of ice water slowly. He said it helped flush out the toxins in your body. I don't know if true or not, but it worked for me... it would get me through that rough patch. Think about it, if we were to do meditative breathing techniques...doesn't that calm us down??? Water flushes out. Made sense to me, anyway. Try to suck on sugarless hard candy when you crave. Or lollypops, but not too many, just when you really have a craving. Focus is key, make a list of important reasons why you've wanted to quit and keep that list with you at all times and look at it when needed (just your five most important reasons is enough). Focus on yourself as a non-smoker. Break any habits that you associate with smoking, such as a cig after eating. Get up from the table and move. Take up knitting, crocheting, whittling, painting, whatever you want and do that in the evenings or when you feel stressed. After suppers, I use to go down into my basement and chop wood for kindling. Yeah, go figure! But it was my new ritual until I could finally relax and enjoy just the fresh air and surroundings without associating it with a cig. Quiting saved my life. I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't. I'm possitive about that, as I find myself very very sick now if I'm in a room with smokers. Honest! If I've been where smoking is allowed, I have the symptons of a severe hangover the next day....without having anything to drink.
Also, I don't crave anymore.
Smoking can be such an emotional crutch. So in the future...even when you get past this stage (and it does get easier each week), and you're "having a bad day" do not let yourself have a weak moment. That might happen, and you will think you are okay having just one. Don't!!!!! Take deep breaths, and laugh about it instead. It throws everything off, but in your favor. Sorry for the book version of my , but I hope you can find something here to help you. Stay strong. Do the gum, water, breathing....whatever it takes. This will be the hardest thing you've ever done, but the most rewarding!!! So stick with it!

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Haven't had a cigarette since Tuesday night (except for one slip)...going nuts...just a little but no intentions of turning back...I hope. I keep reading that the desire to light up will always remain, long after the addiction is no more.

Originally Posted by quietmorning

Sandy, I'm right there with you, I'm day six right now.

I've learned that smoking is like any addiction - it only takes ONE to bring you back into the addiction full force, so no matter what you do, don't smoke that first one. . .

Congrats to you Sandy, Quietmorning, and all the rest of you! Stay the course!

Never been a smoker myself -- can't stand the stench -- but my dad used to be one. He found it harder to give up than drinking. (Not surprising as studies indicate that the nicotine and other chemicals used in production make smoking exceedingly addictive.) He had smoked since he was about 12 or 13 and went 'cold turkey' when he decided to quit. (And this was before the days of nicotine gum and patches)

Originally Posted by Narnia

I won't lie, every now and then if I'm at the bar and have had a couple drinks and someone else has a cigarette, it makes me want one sooooo bad, but it passes. It's a been a year now and I rarely think of it and on the rare occasion I try and have a drag off of someone's, it's not nearly as good as I remember it.

Not surprising, Narnia. Smoking and drinking alcohol often go hand in hand -- especially at bars. While in a bar, you are once more in a place in which you are habitually used to smoking. So smoking "feels" like something you should be doing. This the psychological side of the addiction. I have known a number of folks who only smoke or feel the urge to do so when they are in such situations where smoking is simply the "thing to do".

Originally Posted by bellini girl

One suggestion if I may.. start a simple exercise routine like walking. I'm still battling my tummy bulge which I'm convinced got larger once I stopped.

Breaking old habits is always hard. Developing new habits to replace the old -- like exercising -- from what I've read, seems to be one of the best ways of achieving success.

Bellini, the tummy bulge likely DID get larger as a result of quitting. Besides the appetite suppressive effects of nicotine, smoking gives one's hand and mouth 'something to do'. Bored and need something to while away the time? Nervous or stressed and want to emerse yourself in a calming 'ritual'? The action of smoking provides this outlet. Many people find themselves eating more while trying to quit not because they are actually hungrier, but rather because the act of eating involves the mouth and hand in actions that are similar to the calming smoking 'ritual'. (And even though I have never been a smoker, I must freely admit that there are times I find myself nibbling not because I'm hungry but rather because it is "something to do".) In my dad's case, he started keeping hard candies around the house and on his person.

[b amateur]

Don't give up. You can and will make it. It's been 10+ years for me and it was the smartest thing[after marrying my wife] I ever did.You go girl!

[b amateur]

p.s. If you think your 'chids smell good now,just you wait.

[GreggC]

After stopping smoking is that, like chids smelling better, food smells and tastes better. Just you wait. That is another good reason to exercise. I used to smoke and now I am an exercise nut.

[kiki-do]

Sandy, how are you doing? How about an update. If you're still going strong....atta girl. If not, than that's okay....try again. It's a tough thing to quit.

[orchidbingo]

Originally Posted by kiki-do

Sandy, how are you doing? How about an update. If you're still going strong....atta girl. If not, than that's okay....try again. It's a tough thing to quit.

Sandy,

I'm praying for your success

bingo